IFUT members may wish to consider signing this important open letter on the future direction of research funding and academic freedom in Ireland.
IFUT was closely involved in the earlier 2023 letter, signed by more than 2,500 researchers and academics, and engaged directly with then Minister for Further and Higher Education, Simon Harris, to raise concerns about balance in Ireland’s research ecosystem and the protection of curiosity-driven research across all disciplines.
This latest letter again highlights growing concerns regarding the direction of Research Ireland’s strategy and the increasing emphasis on commercially focused and industry-led research at the expense of independent, discovery-led scholarship and research for the public good.
IFUT continues to strongly advocate for meaningful sectoral engagement involving Research Ireland, Government departments, funding agencies, and those responsible for determining policy and the future direction of the higher education and research sector. Decisions that impact on the terms and conditions of employment, career pathways, funding structures and working lives of those we represent across higher education cannot be developed in isolation or without proper engagement with representative organisations.
A strong and balanced research system must protect academic freedom, support researchers across all disciplines, and ensure that public research funding serves the public good.